What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated how hyperbaric oxygen exposure affects oxidative stress biomarkers and whether a four-week vitamin C and E supplementation could prevent this stress in 19 healthy men.
What They Found
A single hyperbaric oxygen exposure significantly decreased plasma vitamin C (P = 0.027) and increased lipid peroxides (P = 0.0008) and urinary 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine (P = 0.006) in healthy men. However, a four-week supplementation with 500 mg vitamin C and 165 mg alpha-tocopherol equivalents did not prevent this hyperbaric oxygen-induced oxidative stress.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy, this study suggests that standard vitamin C and E supplementation may not be effective in preventing the associated oxidative stress. Patients should discuss potential strategies to mitigate oxidative stress with their healthcare providers, as current evidence indicates supplementation may not be a simple solution.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was not conducted in Canada, nor did it involve Canadian participants or institutions.
Study Limitations
The study was limited by its small sample size of 19 healthy men and its focus solely on vitamin C and E supplementation.